Syngnathids Symposium at Shedd Aquarium

1 Nov 2011

On November 2-4, the world’s leading experts on syngnathids (seahorses and their relatives) will meet at Shedd Aquarium, Chicago to discuss the conservation of these iconic animals.

Organized by Project Seahorse and partners Shedd Aquarium and the Zoological Society of London, as well as Monterey Bay Aquarium, the Syngnathids Symposium brings together over 80 syngnathid researchers and conservationists to share new ideas and discuss conservation and sustainability, breeding and population management, nutrition, medical care, exhibit design and management, and legislation and trade.

Seahorses are flagship species for a wide range of marine conservation issues. Seahorse biology and behaviour — for example, the young depend on parental survival far longer than most fish, and many species are monogamous — makes them susceptible to overfishing.

Seahorses need to be preserved for ecological, biological, economic, and medical reasons. These fishes are important predators on bottom-dwelling organisms; removing them may disrupt ecosystems. Their extraordinary life history — only the male becomes pregnant and pairs are monogamous in many species — provides us with an unusual opportunity to expand our understanding of reproductive ecology.

Watch out for the latest news and insights from the Syngnathids Symposium on our blog and Twitter feed.